SPRING FED POND
We were approached by Mr and Mrs Cohen in the autumn of 2006. The spring fed pond on their property was filled with what proved to be more than a metre of detritus. The dam leaked. The water level was well below potential and the spring had eroded the soil on the input. The area was surrounded by fallen and self-seeded trees.
After discussion with the client, and after getting permission from the local council in the spring of 2007, we cut down and burnt the unwanted trees, keeping the good wood ( ash) for the wood burning stove.
The pond was drained and a bypass pump was installed. Land drains were installed to dry out the boggy and inaccessible areas. We built two dams near the pond for the detritus, both designed for level areas. As it was impossible for a dumper truck to enter the pond the detritus was removed, moving it with two 360 degree excavators, hand over hand. It remained for a year whilst it dried out after which the area was landscaped into level lawns.
The tree stumps were removed and buried, with care being taken not to damage a 19th century ram pump housing.
We found evidence of old water piping in the dam, this and the tree roots in the recent sluice boards were the reasons for the failure to hold water. The old workings were photographed and blocked before re-claying the affected area.
A new 500 mm ribbed double walled "monk" was installed in clay to set the water at at the highest practical level .
Two planting shelves were built below water level. Fittleworth rock was imported to make a new waterfall into the pond and this was installed with butyl rubber and geotextile in order to take the spring water to the top of the rock to form a waterfall.
The working area was fenced off to keep out cattle from adjoining fields. Post and rail fences are planned after final landscaping.
On one edge of the pond where the banking was steep edging board was installed using green oak posts and boards. This was brought 600 mm out into the pond. The area behind was covered with geotextile, then filled to above water level with  20 mm stones. This was blinded with geotextile and top soil and then seeded. This allows for a firm dry 600 mm walkway at the side of the pond, only 70 mm above the finished water level. A first I think.
A landing stage was built using 8 inch square uprights and green oak boards. David Hall came in to carve 2 acorns on the top of the posts. Now full, the water at time of writing is pea green and partially covered with an unattractive brown algae, which will go in time after planting with oxygenating and marginal plants. Phase one of the project project took under 6 weeks.
We returned in the summer of 2008. The client had bought an additional piece of land beside the lake. We installed additional land drains to pick up surplus water coming in from the field. Using stored top soil, we made a level lawn on top of the detritus from the pond and landscaped the entire area. We also moved the kitchen garden and installed oak edging on large sections of the pond, creating pathways. We built a small dam on the downside of the monk along a small pool which can be used as a nursery for aquatic and marginal plants.
The client is delighted and hopefully the pictures speak for themselves. The algae which was virile in the first year is now  much reduced as the aquatic planting takes hold. We were able to give the client a school of golden orf which now adds to the delight of the lake.